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SMSL RAW-MDA 1 DAC & Headphone Amp Review

Rate this DAC & HP Amp

  • 1. Poor (headless panther)

    Votes: 3 0.9%
  • 2. Not terrible (postman panther)

    Votes: 9 2.7%
  • 3. Fine (happy panther)

    Votes: 30 9.1%
  • 4. Great (golfing panther)

    Votes: 288 87.3%

  • Total voters
    330
I understand this device (SMSL RAW-MDA 1) will be enough to drive such headphones as Sennheiser HD650/800. Looking to buy this device to drive these headphones at relatively loud levels.
What's your experience?
 
You will have no problem going deaf with this combination. (I own: MDA 1 + HD6XX)
 
@RHO

I know specs are not everything, more than the chip it's about the implementation of the chip. So your point is very valid and I accept that. I try to understand the graphs but half of the things go over my head. o_O. And you are correct, it's the same for almost all the reviews online, we only make noise when we are unsatisfied.

SMSL RAW MDA 1 is going for around 312 USD at that store. So I read the reviews of a couple of the DAC+Amps that were lower that 300 USD to figure out which one works out the best for me in the long run.

Thank You
 
I also own Kali Lp6 (v1). Great speakers. Perhaps the best bang for the buck monitoring speaker in the 5 to 6 inch class bracket (I own several sets from the usual suspects). It must be said that the sound differences between the MDA1 and DX3 pro+ will be less discernable on speakers due to speaker spacing and room acoustics (not too mention that without a subwoofer, you won't notice the missing low octave). You are wise to take into account user experience. Most of the newer hi-fi/pro audio units measure above and beyond, and without 1st hand experience you won't have any gauge for what the relative comparative differences are. For example, I purchased a Topping DX5 based on measurements alone, but it sounded considerably colder and less enjoyable than the DX3 pro+. A lot of people think they can hear something, and make a judgment call by looking at a graph. That's never the full story. As always, your mileage will vary.

Yeah, the option to get an audition or testing is not the luxury that I have. So I am going with what I read and see, and ask questions.
Thank you, Again
 
Thank you for the guidance, I ordered the DAC, I should receive it in 3-4 days.
My system would be Speakers (Kali LP6 V2) that has XLR, and TRS ends as Balanced inputs. I would be using my PC as a source. Can someone advise on the ideal cables I should go with the PC + DAC + Speakers in mind?

Thank You
 
Thank you for making it simple. I will explore Amazon or some stores for decent XLR cables.
Is there any other advisable way to connect PC --> DAC, I also have a DAP that I wish to connect once in a while, and the USB C-to-USB C I thought would be ideal for that.
Thank You - again.
PC -> USB-A to USB-C -> DAC -> 3-pin XLR Female to 3-pin XLR Male -> Speakers
 
As long as you get some reasonable decent cable you should be fine. No need for fancy brands that are excessively expensive.
 
Thank you for making it simple. I will explore Amazon or some stores for decent XLR cables.
Is there any other advisable way to connect PC --> DAC, I also have a DAP that I wish to connect once in a while, and the USB C-to-USB C I thought would be ideal for that.
Thank You - again.
I have my pc connected via optical cable. Works great.
 
Hello guys!

Let me describe my story with this product so maybe someone could test it with his own unit to confirm this strange issue.

Last year I purchased RAW MDA 1 Dac directly from China. After delivery I connected it to my PC via optical cable and using RCA cables with my mixer and then speakers. Everything seemed to work fine and I was happy of the sound I was getting. But after couple of weeks I've noticed something worrying, whenever there was no signal coming from the PC (like when DAC was ON before the PC) the unit was (and still is) pushing extremely high signal to one of the channels. I can see it on my mixer visual indicators. I tried both of the optical inputs but same problem in both of them occurs, even when there is no any physical cable connected to the unit, whenever one of the optical inputs is selected in dac's menu it still does that until the actual optical signal is send from the PC to the DAC. This problem isn't present since I switched to the USB input.
I sent couple of emails to the manufacturer but their suggestions (like swaping RCA cables, reseting the unit) didn't help.
The only last thing I could try would be to update the firmware but I honestly doubt if this will solve the issue. Of course I can send the unit back to China but this is quite problematic since I'll be left with no other dac as a replacement for the weeks/months it will probably take to fix/replace the unit and send it back to Europe.

I'm not sure but maybe I'm missing something that could solve this issue to begin with?

Here are some pictures of the setup.

IMG_20241126_113107.jpg
IMG_20241126_113136.jpg
IMG_20241126_113153.jpg
 
Is there any other advisable way to connect PC --> DAC, I also have a DAP that I wish to connect once in a while, and the USB C-to-USB C I thought would be ideal for that.
Type-C to Type-C should work just as well.

Though it's possible that your PC will induce noise via USB.
In that case, using Toslink in an easy fix.
 
Type-C to Type-C should work just as well.

Though it's possible that your PC will induce noise via USB.
In that case, using Toslink in an easy fix.
Thank You, I will go with Optical cable. I have that port on the Motherboard. and XLR for speakers as you had advised.
 
Hello guys!

Let me describe my story with this product so maybe someone could test it with his own unit to confirm this strange issue.

Last year I purchased RAW MDA 1 Dac directly from China. After delivery I connected it to my PC via optical cable and using RCA cables with my mixer and then speakers. Everything seemed to work fine and I was happy of the sound I was getting. But after couple of weeks I've noticed something worrying, whenever there was no signal coming from the PC (like when DAC was ON before the PC) the unit was (and still is) pushing extremely high signal to one of the channels. I can see it on my mixer visual indicators. I tried both of the optical inputs but same problem in both of them occurs, even when there is no any physical cable connected to the unit, whenever one of the optical inputs is selected in dac's menu it still does that until the actual optical signal is send from the PC to the DAC. This problem isn't present since I switched to the USB input.
I sent couple of emails to the manufacturer but their suggestions (like swaping RCA cables, reseting the unit) didn't help.
The only last thing I could try would be to update the firmware but I honestly doubt if this will solve the issue. Of course I can send the unit back to China but this is quite problematic since I'll be left with no other dac as a replacement for the weeks/months it will probably take to fix/replace the unit and send it back to Europe.

I'm not sure but maybe I'm missing something that could solve this issue to begin with?

Here are some pictures of the setup.

View attachment 425007View attachment 425008View attachment 425009
Did you switch the cables at the input of the mixer to check if it is the same channel producing the signal? Have you tried the balanced connection from DAC to mixer? Does it do that with Toslink cable connected to the DAC but not the source?

If this still produces the same problems, consider getting another DAC while the RAW MDA1 is away to be checked in China. You can always sell one of them afterwards. Also, if USB connection has no issues and is practical to you, you can just stick to using that.
 
Those should be fine. I use Neutrik but that's because I build my own cables and those connectors are easily available. For ready made cables it doesn't matter too much.
Maybe there's an advantage in using Neutrik for cables you regularly plug in and unplug. They are very reliable. But we tend not to that in our audio setups.
 
The angled XLR connectors usually can be rotated after taking off the shell on the back of the connector. These angled connectors (male) are quite handy for some active speakers yet some speakers have the connectors already under 90 deg and recessed in order to allow wall-mount.
For the RAW MDA 1 I guess straight connectors will usually be the better choice if there's enough space - angled connectors will likely block the other connector or (when pointing upward) will look a bit weird.
Long story short: It depends very much on your specific situation if angled or straight connectors are more convenient.
 
Thank You @nanook

Thank You @RHO

Sorry, my questions are too basic. The SPDIF option is out, as I realized my motherboard lacks that.

I am now getting XLR cables for the DAC to the Speaker.
Type C to Type C for DAC to PC
4.5MM Balanced Line Out to Coaxial or Optical for DAP to DAC. (DAP has a Type C USB, and 4.4MM Balanced Headphone Line Out Jack)

or 3.5mm to RCA PC to DAC
Type C to Type C DAP to DAC

Which is more sensible? or am I missing some other option?
 
Last edited:
Sorry, my questions are too basic. The SPDIF option is out, as I realized my motherboard lacks that.
I've seen someone suggest an audiocard with S/PDIF out, in an other topic. The thing was quite cheap (~$10 on Amazon I think it was).
 
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